The Impact of the Russia-Ukraine War on Security and the Right to Food in North African Countries (Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya)

Document Type : Research

Author

Yasouj University faculty member

Abstract

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has set the stage for a long and costly war for both sides. The consequences of this war, which is still ongoing with no apparent prospect of an end, have extended beyond Russia and Ukraine, impacting nations across various regions. One of the reasons for this is the significant role Russia and Ukraine play in producing and supplying the world's essential food resources, as both countries are leaders in the global agricultural market. Africa, one of the regions most dependent on food exports from Russia and Ukraine, has not been spared from the war’s effects. Given these circumstances, this research examines the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War on security and the right to food in the three North African countries of Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. The research aims to address the question of how the war has impacted food security in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. The research findings indicate that the war has intensified inflation and food insecurity in these countries, adversely affecting the security and the right to food, which are critical social rights for their populations. However, the degree of impact has not been uniform. Egypt and Tunisia experienced the most severe disruptions in security and food availability. In contrast, despite facing food inflation, Libya benefited from increased oil revenues, which helped offset disruptions in the food security supply chain and ensured better access to food.

Keywords

Main Subjects


ابراهیم‌گل، علیرضا (1389)، حق بر غذا: پیش‌شرط تحقق سایر حقوق. دوفصلنامه حقوقی بین‌المللی، (39)، 221-243. .doi: 10.22066/CILAMAG.2010.17388
References
Abay, K. M., Breisinger, C., Glauber, J., Kurdi, S., Laborde, D., & Siddig, K. (2023). The Russia–Ukraine war: Implications for global and regional food security and potential policy responses. Global Food Security, 36, 100661. doi: 10.1016/j.gfs.2023.100661
Abu Hatab, A. (2022). Russia's invasion of Ukraine jeopardizes food security in Africa. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/russias-invasion-of-ukraine-jeopardizes-food-security-in-africa
Ali, M. (2022). Grain and oil prices: What Ukraine war has meant for Libya so far. D+C Development and Cooperation. Retrieved from https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/when-world-market-prices-soared-oil-production-went-down-strife-torn-north-african-country
Ayari, K. (2022). War in Ukraine and food insecurity in Tunisia: Where is reform most needed? Arab Reform Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/war-in-ukraine-and-food-insecurity-in-tunisia-where-is-reform-most-needed/
Barrett, C. B., & Lentz, E. C. (2009). Food insecurity. In R. A. Denemark (Ed.), The international studies compendium project. Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from https://barrett.dyson.cornell. edu/Papers
Bédarride, D. (2022). Libya: What are the consequences of the war in Ukraine on the grain supply? Ecomnews Med. Retrieved from https://www.ecomnewsmed.com/en/2022/04/16/libya-what-are-the-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-on-the-grain-supply
Ben Hassen, T., & El Bilali, H. (2024). Conflict in Ukraine and the unsettling ripples: Implications on food systems and development in North Africa. Agriculture & Food
Business Insider. (2023). Russia's war in Ukraine is affecting countries around the world. Here's how ordinary Egyptians are feeling the consequences. Business Insider. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/sc/tourism-food-prices-egypt-affected-by-russias-war-in-ukraine-2023
Chafuwa, C., & Echessah, P. (2023). Potential impact of the suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative on food security in Africa. AGRA. Retrieved from https://agra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AGRA-Black-Sea-Initiative-2.pdf
Chigozie, N. C., Blessing, C. O., & Igweike, J. J. (2022). Russia–Ukraine war: Its impacts on food security in Africa. Global Journal of Social Sciences Studies, 8(2), 70–81. doi: 10.55284/gjsss.v8i2.720
Crisis Group. (2023). The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the Middle East and North Africa. International Crisis Group. Retrieved from https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/impact-russias-invasion-ukraine-middle-east-and-north-africa
Ebrahimgol, A. (2011). Right to food: A prerequisite for the realization of other rights. Biannual Journal of International Law, 39, 221–243 (In Persian).
ESCWA. (2022). Impacts of the war in Ukraine on the Arab region. United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. Retrieved from https://www.unescwa.org/news/war-ukraine-will-lead-record-about-126-million-poor-arab-region
Fabiani, R. (2023). The Ukraine war’s economic impact on North Africa: Winners, losers, and a dangerous lack of long-term vision. Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI). Retrieved from https://www.ispionline.it/en/publication/the-ukraine-wars-economic-impact-on-north-africa-winners-losers-and-a-dangerous-lack-of-long-term-vision-132037
Glauber, J. (2024). Ukraine and global agricultural markets two years later. Available at: https://www.foodsecurityportal.org/node/2705
Kitenge, S. Y. (2023). Linking food and national security in Africa: Lessons from Russia-Ukraine conflict. Available at: https://www.policycenter.ma/publications/linking-food-and-national-security-africa-lessons-russia-ukraine-conflict
KPMG. (2022). Ukraine-Russia sector considerations: Agriculture. Available at: https://home. kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2022/05/ukraine-russia-sector-considerations-agriculture.html
Leforts, J. S. (2023). Stocking up for resilience. Available at: https://www.eib.org/en/stories/tunisia-food-security
Luo, P., & Tanaka, T. (2021). Food import dependency and national food security: A price transmission analysis for the wheat sector. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8395007/
Michaël, T. (2023). The Russia-Ukraine war forces Egypt to face the need to feed itself: Infrastructure, international partnerships, and agritech can provide the solutions. Available at: https://www.mei.edu/publications/russia-ukraine-war-forces-egypt-face-need-feed-itself-infrastructure-international
Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade. (2019). Results of the Tamween Program in 2019. Available at: http://www.msit.gov.eg/details.html?topicID=574
Arafeh, N., & Meddeb, M. (2024). Misfortune to marginalization: The geopolitical impact of structural economic failings in Egypt, Tunisia, and Lebanon. Available at: https://carnegieendowment.org
OEC. (n.d.). Tunisia and Ukraine bilateral trade profile. Available at: https://oec.world/en/ profile/bilateral-country/tun/partner/ukr
OEC. (n.d.). Egypt and Ukraine bilateral trade profile. Available at: https://oec.world/en/profile/ bilateral-country/ukr/partner/egy
OECD. (2022). Economic and social impacts and policy implications of the war in Ukraine. Available at: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/4181d61b-en/index.html?itemId=/content/ publication/4181d61b-en
OHCHR. (2024). About the right to food and human rights. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org
ReliefWeb. (2022). Libya: Assessment of the Libyan wheat supply chain – Quantitative and qualitative assessment of the short-term impact of the escalated conflict in Ukraine on the Libyan wheat supply chain. Available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/libya/libya-assessment-libyan-wheat-supply-chain-quantitative-and-qualitative-assessment-short-term-impact-escalated-conflict-ukraine-libyan-wheat-supply-chain-june-2022
Reuters. (2023). Ukraine farmers may cut winter grain sowing by at least 30% — Union. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-grain-sowing-idAFL1N30J0CL
Scanlan, S. J. (2003). Food security and comparative sociology: Research, theories, and concepts. International Journal of Sociology, 33(3), 88–111.
Schroeder, K., & Smaldone, A. (2015). Food insecurity: A concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Tanchum, M. (2023). The Russia-Ukraine war forces Egypt to face the need to feed itself: Infrastructure, international partnerships, and agritech can provide the solutions. Middle East Institute. Available at: https://www.mei.edu/publications/russia-ukraine-war-forces-egypt-face-need-feed-itself-infrastructure-international
Trading Economics. (n.d.). Egypt food inflation. Available at: https://tradingeconomics.com/ egypt/food-inflation
Trading Economics. (n.d.). Tunisia food inflation. Available at: https://tradingeconomics.com/ tunisia/inflation-cpi
Ulimwengu, J. (2023). The impact of Russia-Ukraine conflict on food and nutrition security in Africa: A call for a more resilient African food system. Available at: https://ssa. foodsecurityportal.org/node/2431